Respondents to an annual Lake Superior State University survey have declared the phrase "6-7" as overused and deserving of banishment, adding it to the university's 50th annual Banished Words List. The list, released Thursday, is a tongue-in-cheek compilation of overused and misused words and phrases.
The Banished Words List, affectionately known as the "list of Queens English for Mis-use, Over-use and General Uselessness," originated in 1976 as a New Year's Eve party idea. This year, the university received around 1,400 submissions from all 50 states and several countries, including Uzbekistan, Brazil, and Japan.
Other terms making the top 10 this year include "demure," "incentivize," "perfect," "gifted," "my bad," and "reach out." Notably, "my bad" and "reach out" have appeared on the list before, in 1998 and 1994, respectively.
David Travis, president of Lake Superior State University, noted the list reflects current trends in language, particularly among younger generations. "The list definitely represents the fad and vernacular trends of the younger generation," Travis said. "Social media allows a greater opportunity to misunderstand or misuse words. We're using terms that are shared through texting, primarily, or through posting with no body language or tone context."
The annual Banished Words List serves as a lighthearted commentary on the evolution of language and the impact of social media on communication.
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